Student body president Keaton Grove cut a green and gold ribbon spanning the entrance to Whitefish High School last week — marking the official opening of the new school.

“On behalf of all the students here at Whitefish High School, I want to thank the community for doing so much for us,” he said. “This has been an amazing experience already this year — so much learning in the new school. This has taken our school to a whole new level.”

Inside the school’s remodeled gymnasium, superintendent Kate Orozco said construction of the new $23 million building has been years in the making.

“This community asked itself how do we come together to build a high school that our children deserve,” she said. “After five years of hard work, and design and discussion, and debate we are standing in a state-of-the-art school that is worthy of the promise of our kids,” she said.

Following two failed bond requests to renovate the high school in 2003 and 2008, the Whitefish School Board made its priority the construction of a new school. Voters in 2012 approved a $14 million bond that eventually led to the construction of the school.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock toured the school before speaking at a dedication ceremony. Bullock began by noting his ties to Whitefish, where his wife was born and where her father was a teacher at the high school.

He talked about the importance of a quality education provided by teachers and educators.

“Our children cannot learn if they don’t have an effective place to learn,” Bullock said. “Whitefish students now have an effective place to learn.”

The city of Whitefish played a pivotal role in supporting the school by providing $2.5 million in tax increment funds to move the project forward.

Mayor John Muhlfeld said when the city set up the TIF district in 1987, it agreed to support the school district.

“We recognized the importance education plays in supporting and growing the economy of our city,” he said. “The project is about building a school that produces students who can return here to live, work and make a living while raising families.”

Muhlfeld talked about his personal experience working with science students on the restoration of Haskill Creek as they planted trees and shrubs, mapped the creek and analyzed its water quality.

“My experience is that we have the best teachers, best administrators and now the best facility in the state, that will help students reach their full academic potential,” he said.

Principal Kerry Drown thanked the numerous supporters, donors, school board members, and employees who were part of the “exceptional journey” to construct a new school. About $3.35 million was raised through private funding and donations.

“I’m here to express gratitude to the many people whose involvement has made a difference not only on the building project, but on the future students and staff that will benefit from this endeavor,” he said.

Project manager Dow Powell and contractor Loren Cantrell of Langlass and Associates were among those thanked.

Cantrell recalled being told early in the project that building in Whitefish is different. While he smiled politely, he also thought about the number of schools he’d built around Montana and wondered how different could it really be.

“Building in Whitefish is special,” he said. “Never before have I been exposed to such a dedicated and caring school board and administration. Never before had I been involved in a project where the city and private donors step forward saying we want to make this school even better. Never before have I seen such positive total community involvement in a project.”

Following the dedication ceremony, community members were invited to explore the building.

Senior Dan Cameron stood outside the library on the second floor of the school waiting to assist those on the self-guided tour.

“I love it,” Cameron said of the new building. “I love the open spaces that create lots of opportunities for learning together.”

Cameron said the school’s change to a block schedule this school year has created even more time outside of class for students to work together on in-depth projects or access guidance counselors to assist with college applications.

Technology has been integrated throughout the school, no longer making it necessary for students to be tied to a computer lab for learning. Cameron said this upgrade has benefited his Geographical Information Science course.

“We can take laptops and travel in groups around the school and work,” he said. “There are more computers in the classrooms or carts of laptops that can be moved into the class for access.”